Tanks, age and maintenance issues; was Re: Canadian Sea King crashes off Denmark

[zipperhead_cop]

Unlike armoured vehicles, which you can continuously refurbish

You, my friend, need to take a spin in a Leo across rough terrain and wave at the field mice through the cracks in the floor.

 

[Armymatters]

You, my friend, need to take a spin in a Leo across rough terrain and wave at the field mice through the cracks in the floor.

Talk to the South Africans, and their Olifant tanks... the hull is a Centurion tank hull, even older than the Leopard. They even went to an Indian tank scrapyard, and purchased some scrap hulls and totally refurbished them to operational standards... so, yes, you can refurbish a armoured vehicle as much as you want.

 

[zipperhead_cop]

Sure, and it is scientifically possible to turn lead into gold, but that doesn't make it a good idea or even affordable.
If you have a buddy driving a 1974 Datsun and it is a piece of junk and he keeps putting money into it, do you not say "dude, ditch that money pit and get something new"?
What is the maintenance/operations ratio for the Sea Kings?  The Leo's (back in 95) was one hour in the field to eight hours maintenance.  Maybe the mech's control more of the military than we realize...hmmmmm ^-^

 

[3rd Herd]

Talk to the South Africans, and their Olifant tanks... the hull is a Centurion tank hull, even older than the Leopard. They even went to an Indian tank scrapyard, and purchased some scrap hulls and totally refurbished them to operational standards... so, yes, you can refurbish a armoured vehicle as much as you want.

A couple of things Armymatters.

First since yet again you have failled to supply any sort  of source reference or links to your information I took your advice and talked to a couple of South Africans. And since the South Africans have made two separate purchases out of Indian scrapyards I have had to look at both.

As follows, the Olifant tank is based on the SA developed Semel(Tempest) tank which was based on an upgraded version of the Centurion (bought out of Indian scrapyards and updated to the Israel Sho't standard).

The Olifant entered production in 1983 and service in 1985. At the same time development began on the Mark 1B series which began entering service in 1991. In September 2003 BAE systems was awarded the contract to upgrade the  13 of the Mark 1B's to Mark 2 series. A second contract was award in Sept 2005 for a further upgrade of 13 more tanks to the Mark 2 series. The completion of this up grade is expected to be late 2006/2007.

Secondly, in your reference to scrap tanks hulls purchased from India could you perhaps referring to the marriage of a Argun tank or Indian manufactured T-72 chaise with the SA T6 turret and the G6 gun resulting in the G6-52 Rhino? Producing the most accurate furthest firing SP in the world at present. Even further if the V-LAP projectile  program is successful that increases the G5/G6/T6 range to more than 70km.


http://www.army-technology.com/projects/olifant/
http://www.global-defence.com/2000/pages/denel.html
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/rsa/g6-52.htm
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/rsa/g6.htm

 

[Fishbone Jones]

There's what happens when you pull minor info off the internet without doing in depth study on the project.

I can skip the internet research. I've rebuilt a Centurion, top to bottom. Yeah, it can be done, but I would advise no one to do it to original state. Anything else is like taking a 55 Dodge, drop a Hemi and drag bars into it, roll cage and headers. A nitrous kit, lifts and slicks. Hmmm, is it still a Dodge? No it is not. Same goes for buying scrap tanks and refurbishing them.

Armymatters,

You've once more stepped way outside your area of expertise (do you really have one?). Being able to catalogue facts from the internet doesn't buy you status or entry into the club of the people that  have BTDT. Don't quit on my account, I'm sure the quasi, make believe experts, at places like Polaris, will have a spot for you when you graduate.